Elvis Presley – Help me make it Through The Night

Composed by the legendary singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, the song found its way to Elvis through producer ** Felton Jarvis**. Now, Jarvis was a shrewd operator who recognized Presley’s hunger to reinvent himself and the immense commercial potential of this country-tinged ballad.

“Help Me Make It Through The Night” wasn’t just a calculated move, though. It tapped into a vulnerability rarely seen in Elvis’s previous work. The song’s melancholic melody, courtesy of masterful guitarist James Burton, perfectly complements the raw emotion in Presley’s vocals.

Listen closely, and you’ll hear a world-weary weariness in his voice, a man grappling with the weight of fame and longing for solace. The lyrics themselves paint a picture of emotional desolation. The narrator begs for companionship, for someone to ease the burden of a lonely night. Lines like “Yesterday is dead and gone / And tomorrow’s out of sight / And it’s sad to be alone” resonate with a universal yearning for connection.

This shift in style proved to be a masterstroke. “Help Me Make It Through The Night” became a runaway success, topping the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a critical darling as well, earning Presley a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Male Performance.

More importantly, the song re-energized Elvis’s career. It proved his versatility as an artist, his ability to deliver a powerful performance beyond the realm of pure rock and roll. “Help Me Make It Through The Night” stands as a testament to Presley’s enduring legacy, a song that continues to resonate with listeners of all generations seeking solace and understanding in the face of loneliness.